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DP World and Djibouti head to arbitration over 30-year concession

DP World and Djibouti head to arbitration over 30-year concession
DP World's 30 year concession at Djibouti's Doraleh Container Terminal has been called into question as the country investigates the awarding of the contract in 2006.

The global terminal operator has confirmed that the Office of the Inspector General of the Republic of Djibouti is investigating the concession and that it has filed for arbitration before the
London Court of International Arbitration.

DP World has accepted Djibouti's offer to continue running the terminal during arbitration, to "maintain the status quo and mitigate disruption at the terminal."

Opened in 2008 and inaugurated in 2009, the terminal had aspirations to expand capacity to 3m teu per annum, and currently has capacity for 1.6m teu with a 1050m quay with 18m draught and 8 super post panamax cranes. In 2013 the terminal handled 743,000 teu.

In a statement on its website, DP world rejected the allegations and stated its intention to defend its position during the proceedings.

"We are disappointed that the Djiboutian government has chosen to take this action after working so closely with us as partners over the past 14 years. We have invested significantly in Djibouti over those years and have been a major contributor to its economy and to its community," the company added.